A gentle full body massage technique, it is the most popular form of bodywork practiced in the West. It employs soft strokes on the more delicate and bony structures of the body, such as the face, hands and feet, and stronger strokes over the more thickly muscled areas that retain stress, such as the neck and shoulders. The primary goal of Swedish massage is to help the body heal itself and induce relaxation.
The benefits include:
- Maintaining the body’s homeostasis (balance)
- Improved circulation
- Relief of muscle tension
- Elimination of waste
- Improvement and maintenance of body posture
- Strengthening the immune system
- Enhancing recovery
- General feelings of relaxation and well being
Conditions Benefited:
- Arthritis (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Asthma and bronchitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Circulatory problems
- Migraines and headache, especially when due to muscle tension
- Gastrointestinal disorders (including spastic colon, colic and constipation)
- Immune function disorders
- Insomnia
- Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
- Premature infants
- Reduced range of motion
- Sinusitis
- Sports injuries (including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments)
- Stress
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
What to expect in a session
A Swedish massage session lasts anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes. Treatment follows a case history, which is usually relatively short compared with other complementary therapies but which varies in length depending on the patient’s condition and the indications for massage. During the interview I take all the necessary information that helps tailor each session to individual needs.
Since Swedish massage calls for the use of oil, the client is ideally massaged unclothed, but the areas not being massaged are always covered. As a certified Aromatherapist, I also incorporate the use of essential oils in the massage session. The temperature in my treatment room is kept at the client’s comfort level.
